TURKISH PRESS REVIEW

WEDNESDAY JULY 31, 1996

Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning

The Turkish Parliament yesterday backed the coalition on the
renewal of the Operation Provide Comfort (OPC) mandate,
prolonging the stay of the Western air force protecting Iraq's
Kurds. The majority vote taken after a long session extended the
OPC's mandate for another five months. An extension of the
emergency rule in 10 southeastern provinces for four more months
was also approved in Parliament yesterday. Defending the
government's call for the five month extension, Defence Minister
Turhan Tayan said important changes had been successfully
inserted into the terms of OPC, addressing Turkey's grievances
and suspicions felt about US' motives.

Following lengthy negotiations between Turkish and US officials,
the White House issued a statement over the weekend, saying
Washington had no intention of harming Iraq's unity or
undermining Turkey's security. The statement also called on the
Iraqi Kurds not to support or assist the separatist Kurdistan
Workers' Party (PKK) entrenched in northern Iraq. The US,
however, refused to bow down to a Turkish demand for the transfer
of a Military Coordination Centre based in Zakho, northern Iraq,
to Turkey.

Meanwhile, the US administration has thanked Erbakan's government
for the extension of the OPC mandate. US State Department
Spokesman Nicholas Burns qualified the extension decision as a
"victory for Turkey, Turco-US relations and for Erbakan's
government". /Milliyet/

Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan will sign an agreement with Iran
on the import of natural gas during his visits to Indonesia,
Malaysia, Pakistan and Iran beginning on 10 August, he told his
Welfare Party (RP) group meeting on Tuesday. Erbakan said that
the import of Iranian natural gas would save the country money.
The south and east of Turkey are expected to have priority in the
use of the gas. Erbakan also stressed his wish for collaboration
between Middle Eastern countries such as Iran, Iraq, Syria and
Turkey, for a solution to terrorism. /Milliyet/

Keeping up with developments in world communications, the
Directorate General of Press and Information has hooked into
Internet. In a written statement yesterday, the Directorate said
that the step forward into the latest technology opened the way
for new facilities to be made available to the domestic and
foreign media -including E-mail services. /Hurriyet/

Turkey yesterday battled with raging forest fires, as the world
responded coolly to appeals for help. While the fires in Adana
have been completely extinguished, the forest fire in the Soke
district of Aydin has been reported to be under control on three
fronts, but is still continuing on the western front due to
strong winds. The forest fire near the popular tourist town of
Marmaris was caused by negligence during the burning of dried
weeds. Officials report that it has destroyed a total of 2,000
hectares. Currently 3,000 people are fighting against the flames
in the region.

On Monday, the Foreign Ministry appealed to Israel, Italy, Spain,
Germany, France, Great Britain and the US when it was clear that
Turkey would not be able to extinguish the fires with her own
resources. On Monday, Justice Minister mehmet Agar, Industry and
Trade Minister Yalim Erez, Forestry Minister Halit Dagli and
Tourism Minister Bahattin Yucel flew to Marmaris to carry out on
site investigations. /Hurriyet/

According to Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller, the Kirkuk-Yumurtalik
overland oil pipeline will be carrying oil again by September 15.
Ciller announced yesterday that following talks, oil worth two
billion dollars would be flowing through the pipeline -inactive
since the Gulf War and the start of US sanctions against Iraq.
/Milliyet/

A joint effort by private and governmental agencies in Turkey and
Spain to sell the Spanish-designed CASA aircraft, produced by
Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), to other countries could
boost ties between Turkey and Spain, said Defence Minister Turhan
Tayan. Speaking at a meeting in Ankara attended by Turkish Air
Force Commander Ahmet Corekci, Foreign Ministry Undersecretary
Onur Oymen, Spanish Ambassador to Ankara Carlos Carderera, and
top defence officials both from Turkey and Spain, Turhan voiced
his pleasure over the improved relations between the two
countries which share military, economic and social values.

Turhan pointed out that Turkey's entry into the customs union
with the EU could create important opportunities and lead to
further cooperation in other fields between Turkey and EU
members. In order to meet Turkey's military and civil aviation
needs a contract was signed with the Spanish firm in 1990 for the
joint production of 52 CN-235 transport aircraft. TAI has
delivered 32 of the airplanes so far and will deliver 20 more by
the end of 1997. The programme is scheduled to be completed in
early 1998. The CASA CN-235 aircraft in the Turkish fleet are
used to transport passengers and cargo, and for electronic
surveillance. /All papers/

Atsuko Toyama has been appointed as the new Japanese ambassador
to Ankara. Japanese officials stated that the appointment will
become valid by August 1. Before his appointment to Ankara Toyama
was involved in the Culture Ministry back in Japan. Toyama's
predecessor Takehiro Togo has been appointed as ambassador to
Moscow. Togo was ambassador to Ankara from 1993 to 1996. He was
chairman of the East European Department of the Japanese Foreign
Ministry. /All papers/

The State Institute of Statistics (DIE) has announced that a
total of 28,417 new firms, with a total registered capital of TL
89.3 trillion, were established during the first half of the
current year. DIE statistics revealed that another 5,694 firms
registered capital rises to a total value of TL 167.940 trillion
during January-June period, while 45 firms accounting for a total
capital of TL 2.377 trillion changed their status in the same
period. DIE also said that a total of 4,888 new firms, with a
total registered capital of TL 10.029 trillion, were established
during June alone. /All papers/

Security forces have killed 16 militants of the PKK terrorist
organization in southeastern Turkey in separate clashes, the
emergency rule governor's office said in a statement on Tuesday.
Government forces killed nine militants in Van province, five in
Hakkari province and another two in Sirnak province in fighting
on Monday and Tuesday, the statement said. /All papers/

The world's major powers adopted a package of 25 measures to
combat terrorist on Tuesday, vowing to implement them without
delay and appealing to all other states to join in a global fight
against political violence. A declaration issued after a
five-hour meeting in Paris listed a range of practical steps
including commitments to improve transport safety, fight arms
trafficking, increase police and intelligence cooperation and
investigate the abuse of charities and front organizations by
terrorists. The Group Seven big industrial democracies and Russia
declared: "We noted that there is a growing commitment within the
international community to condemn terrorism in whatever shape or
form, regardless of its motives, to make no concessions to
terrorists, and to implement means to effectively fight
terrorism".

French Interior Minister Jean-Louis Debre, who headed the summit
together with French Foreign Minister Herve de Charette, listed
the top terrorist organizations as the PKK and DHKP-C in Turkey,
ETA in Spain and the IRA in Ireland.

The statement included a pledge "to seek additional international
means" to prevent the abuse of political asylum to plan, fund or
commit acts of terrorism. Experts will meet before the end of the
year to draft a new convention against terrorist bombings and
threats to public transport, Herve de Charette announced.
/Hurriyet/

Turkish Airlines (THY) will start flights to Beijing, Seul,
Jakarta, Johannesburg and Nairobi this winter. General Director
Atilla Celebi said: "We will have an 8 % growth rate by 2000. We
will grow even further". /Hurriyet/

Police officials attacked in the Istanbul suburbs of Gebze and
Eyup died yesterday in the hospitals where they were under
treatment. In addition to the 12 people who died during recent
hunger strikes, four police officials and five people died in
protest demonstrations. Thus, the number of people who have died
during the hunger strike period has reached 21. /Cumhuriyet/